Season Review: Mike Bell
From Reggie Bush with the No. 2 overall pick to Quinton Ganther some 244 selections later, 14 running backs went in the 2006 NFL Draft.
That collection of tailbacks didn’t include the University of Arizona’s Mike Bell. But he outran all but three of those drafted backs in his rookie season, while becoming just the fifth undrafted rookie to gain more than 500 yards in his NFL debut season.
Bell finished with 677 yards splitting time with three-year veteran Tatum Bell, who finished the year as the Broncos’ leading rusher and the team’s sixth different 1,000-yard ballcarrier in the Mike Shanahan era. But in the season’s last 10 games, it was the rookie who led the way, with 10 more carries, 96 more yards, half a yard more per carry nd seven more rushing touchdowns than the elder Bell.
That work initially arose from Tatum Bell’s late-October toe problems. He recovered, and with his increased workload in early December, Mike Bell’s share of the carries dropped, to only 14 in Weeks 13 and 14 (when Tatum Bell broke 100 yards). At Arizona, however, Mike Bell reasserted himself with 61 yards on 16 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
“Sometimes one person has it, sometimes somebody doesn’t,” Mike Bell said after he scored twice in his return to Arizona. “But Tatum’s been successful the whole season, so it was good to get the opportunity to get in there.”
And the opportunity arose again in Weeks 1 and 17, with 69 and 66 rushing yards, respectively. It was a solid end to the season, but considering where his expectations were upon his arrival, it was nothing short of extraordinary.
“A successful rookie season means making the team and just working my way from there.,” Bell said in June. “Right now, I’m just working on making the team and then from there, the sky’s the limit.”
And that sky seems a little more limitless now than it was when he arrived as an unheralded, undrafted newcomer.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Led the Broncos in rushing touchdowns with eight … Three-quarters of his scores came in couplets, with a pair of touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 8, San Diego in Week 11 and at Arizona in Week 15 … Bell’s three touchdown runs in the final three weeks was tied for sixth in the league behind St. Louis’ Steven Jackson, Seattle’s Shaun Alexander, the New York Giants’ Tiki Barber, Kansas City’s Larry Johnson and Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew … Had double-digit carries in nine of the Broncos’ last 11 games in 2006 (in the other two games, he had four carries against Seattle on Dec. 3 and didn’t play at Oakland on Nov. 12).
NEXT: Tailback Tatum Bell.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I tell you what, this kid was a pleasent surprise. Like a Rod Smith. With more practice and learning the system, this kid is a keeper. Plus c’mon, he gives the “Mile High Salute”! He knows what an honor it is to be a Denver Bronco!
-tha jOKER
January 17th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I agree. Give this kid the opportunity to prove to the organization that he’s the real deal. You could tell on his runs that he was running with authority and determination. Why bring some big time name when we have our Broncos ready to run loose? Everyone seems to give most of the credit to the line for the Broncos success with the running game, but let us not forget that previous Broncos such as TD, M. Anderson, Olandis Gary, C. Portis all had great vision and where decisive with there reads.
I say this my Bronco Nation: MIKE BELL FOR RUNNING BACK For 2007!
GO BRONCOS!
January 17th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I am a huge mike bell fan. I hope he starts next year. I believe he will do great if given the chance.
January 17th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I think he is a keeper over Tatum because he fights for every yard. I think he isn’t a Terrell Davis type of athlete, but if he had the desire he could improve 10 fold. He needs to bulk up a little more…he has the power, but lacks the size to OVERpower defenses. I prefer a Mike Bell running style to a Tatum Bell running style any day. It’s the Bronco tradition started really by Davis and I’d hate to see us continue hoping to get more out of Tatum when it clearly isn’t going to happen. Get a good deal in a trade…draft picks baby! I wouldn’t mind drafting a round 2-4 running back with the ability to develop in case Mike Bell isn’t up to the challenge of an every down back. The search must continue until we find the heir apparent to TD, I think we may have already found the heir to #7.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Man, I like this guy, first of all, lots of heart. Secondly, HE DOES THE MILE HIGH SALUTE! C’mon, where did the pride of the Broncos go? EVERYONE was doing the salute until T.D. signed that Chunky Soup Commercial Deal, and got hurt. That’s not a Terrell Davis thing, it’s a Denver thing. I like Mike Bell, and I hope he proves to everyone that He’s come to play.
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 am
Biggest fan favorite since Eddie Mac, born to be a Bronco! Walks the walk without having to talk the talk. And of course, continues the heritage of our “Mile High Salute”. Marketing would be wise to ride this wave, and Coach already knows the kids a winner on and off the field.
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I really like Mike Bell. The kid is very consistent, and he will only improve the more chances he gets. I hope the Broncos do not waste another high draft pick at RB because Mike CAN carry this team. Tatum danced too much and he was injury prone. In addition, Mike Bell did a terrific job as a receiver. He was OK as a blocker, but still way better than Tatum. We forget, Mike was a ROOKIE this year, and he still did a great job. The one thing you usually see with rookies is inconsistency. You may see a spark, but it quickly burns out. Mike Bell was consistent. AND, he held onto the ball. He only fumbled a few times all year. What else should
Broncos’ fans want from a back. He is consistent, durable, strong, a good receiver, a decent blocker (which will improve), and he secures the ball. The big plays will come too. He broke a few plays this year despite having fewer chances than most starters around the league. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have a RB consistently get 4-5 yards than a back that dances around and usually gets 1 or 2 yards with the occasional 10 yard scamper. One last point. This kid really wants to be a Bronco. A lot of guys play for the paycheck or their own glory, but Mike doesn’t seem to be selfish. He is a team player, and I hope he stays that way. Please Mike (Shanahan), do NOT draft another running back before the 5th round. We need help on defense, especially at defensive end and tackle. Mike Bell has the potential to be great, not just average. Give him a chance. He was already great in his rookie season, despite Plummer’s ineffectiveness. With a better passing attack, the running game will only improve.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
It’s already all been said, but riddler got it right off. He gives the Mile High Salute! Put the kid in there, tell him the job is his, train him up, and let him run!
He’s already shown that he can get the job done, and it just seems to me he has the toughness to fight for every yard, on every play, of every game.
I like him. Great first season, and should be even better next year.
January 28th, 2007 at 9:15 am
I personally believe that he should be the starter over Tatum. Tatum has been injured the last couple of years, you have to be consistant to want to always be the main guy. Mike shows us that each game he play’s. It takes heart to want to be a leader, but it also takes toughness mental and physical, drive, and competitiveness on every play to be a leader and that is what Mike brings vs. Tatum. Sure Tatum is not bad and they have two different running styles, but if Mike was to have as many carries as Tatum I feel he would have had more yards. I hope Mike S. looks at because we need to get back to super bowl status and I honestly don’t see a Terrel Davis like back in our backfield yet that Coach feels comfortable with.
January 31st, 2007 at 2:14 am
I really like Mike Bell’s work ethic, you can tell he really runs hard. That being said I think with another year in the system he should be able to improve. One thing I noticed early in the year, is that he appeared to be tiptoeing through the line, and at times running with his pads a little to high. I realize all rookies go through an adjustment period entering the NFL. He showed improvement later in the year, especially in that Arizona game. I hope that Mike continues working on his conditioning and elusiveness, and perhaps even bulk up his frame a bit. That way he could really push Tatum for the starting job in 07.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Well, everyone basically has said the same thing. We like Mike and that obvious. I agree totally with everything everyone has said. I would love to see him be the feature back, lets dish Tatum for skill elsewhere, and lets hope Shanahan reads these messages eh?
February 11th, 2007 at 1:43 am
We should keep Mike Bell and rid Tatum Bell in a trade. We need a power back like Ricky Williams type. Mike could put on more size also.
February 12th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I have great fellings in knowing that Mike will be our power running back for the 2007 season. With his veiw of the first year and what he has learn and found in himself he will be a great back. Tatum will be great too as a back up or a leader for our practice squad. Defence need practice too.